The minimum wage for workers in Seattle and Washington state is going up.
The state minimum wage will rise 2.8%, from $16.66 per hour to $17.13, on Jan. 1, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries announced Tuesday.
Seattle’s minimum wage would increase 2.6%, from $20.76 to $21.30, on Jan. 1, the city's office of labor standards announced. The increase reflects the rate of inflation based on the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area's consumer price index as measured by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The threshold for overtime exemption for salary workers also rose. Employers will have to pay overtime exempt workers at least 2.25 times the minimum wage, which is at least $80,168.40 a year, versus the previous of two times the minimum wage.
Washington’s threshold for overtime exemption has been rising over an eight-year implementation schedule since 2020. By 2028, the threshold will be 2.5 times the minimum wage.
Minimum pay for rideshare drivers will also increase. Drivers will earn 70 cents per minute they spend picking up or driving passengers and $1.63 per mile for trips inside Seattle, or $6.12 per ride, whichever is greater. Outside of Seattle, they’ll earn 40 cents per minute and $1.38 per mile, or $3.55 per ride, whichever is greater.
Washington’s minimum wage is the highest among the U.S. states, Labor & Industries said.
Labor & Industries compares the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from August to the CPI-W of last August to see if any change is needed.
Local governments can set their minimum wages higher than the state’s. Among those with higher wages are Seattle, SeaTac, Tukwila, Renton, Bellingham, Everett, Burien and unincorporated King County.
Among those areas and cities, unincorporated King County’s minimum wage for big employers will rise to $20.82 on January 1. Tukwila’s will rise to $21.65. Bellingham’s will rise to $19.13.
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